Friday Nov 29, 2024
Friday Nov 29, 2024
Tuesday, 2 January 2024 01:24 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
Sri Lanka has named a virtual Under-19 Asia Cup squad for the upcoming ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in South Africa this month.
Royal College Colombo’s top order left-hand batsman Sineth Jayawardena who represents SSC in domestic cricket has been given the task of leading the 15-member Sri Lanka squad to the 15th edition of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup which will take place from 19 January to 11 February.
Bowling all-rounder Malsha Tharupathi of Richmond College, Galle who plays for Moors SC in domestic cricket and was a member of the champion B-Love Kandy side in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) is the Vice-Captain.
The one change Sri Lanka has made from their Asia Cup squad is the inclusion of batsman Supun Waduge. Waduge who went as a travel reserve to the Under-19 Asia Cup held in the UAE finds his way into the Sri Lanka Under-19 World Cup 15 at the expense of left-arm leg-spinner Dinuka Tennekoon.
Tennekoon has been picked as a travel reserve along with batsman Hiran Jayasundara and fast bowler Manula Kularatne.
The majority of players in the squad have been playing together since January 2023.
The squad is currently in training and will travel to Kitulgala today to undergo a one-day team building outbound program. They will thereafter play a one-day match against the Sri Lanka Emerging side on 4 January at the NCC grounds before taking the flight to South Africa on 8 January.
Sri Lanka failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the Asia Cup winning only one match against Japan and losing to UAE and Bangladesh.
The Under-19 World Cup gives Captain Jayawardena another opportunity to put the record straight where 14 previous Sri Lanka Under-19 World Cup captains have failed. Jayawardena took over the Under-19 captaincy from Shevon Daniel in the latter part of last year and has led Sri Lanka to series wins against West Indies 2-1 and Pakistan 3-2 before faltering in the Under-19 Asia Cup.
Sri Lanka’s best effort in the Under-19 World Cup was finishing runner-up to India in 2000 under Malintha Gajanayake when Sri Lanka hosted the event.
Their best efforts after that have been reaching the semi-finals twice in 2010 under the captaincy of Chathura Peiris and 2016 when Sri Lanka was led by Charith Asalanka. In the last Under-19 World Cup held in the West Indies in 2022, Sri Lanka captained by all-rounder Dunith Wellalage finished in sixth place.
Sri Lanka plays two warm-up matches against Bangladesh (on 14 January) and India (on 17 January) both games at Pretoria before they open their World Cup campaign on 21 January against Zimbabwe at Kimberley. Sri Lanka’s other two Group C fixtures are also at the same venue against Namibia on 24 January and against Australia on 28 January. The top three teams from each of the four groups will advance to the Super Six stage carrying forward the points gained in the group stage. Super Six will comprise two groups where the top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals.
Sri Lanka Squad for Under-19 World Cup
Sineth Jayawardena (Captain, Royal College, Colombo), Pulindu Perera (Dharmaraja College, Kandy), Hirun Kapurubandara (St. Joseph’s College, Colombo), Ravishan Nethsara (P. de S. Kularatne MV, Galle), Rusanda Gamage (St. Peter’s College, Colombo), Sharujan Shanmuganathan (St. Benedict’s College, Colombo), Dinura Kalupahana (Mahinda College, Galle), Malsha Tharupathi (Vice Captain, Richmond College, Galle), Vishva Lahiru (Sri Sumangala Vidyalaya, Kalutara), Garuka Sanketh (Lyceum International, Wattala), Duvindu Ranatunga (Mahanama College, Colombo), Ruvishan Perera (Ananda College, Colombo), Supun Waduge (Trinity College, Kandy), Vihas Thewmika (Thurstan College, Colombo), Vishen Halambage (St. Peter’s College, Colombo).
Travelling Reserves: Dinuka Tennakoon (Trinity College, Kandy), Hiran Jayasundara (St. Joseph’s College, Colombo), Manula Kularatne (Trinity College, Kandy)
Sri Lanka Under-19 World Cup Captains
